Accelerate ICD development in Kashmir: KCCI

Srinagar, Apr 13: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) Saturday hosted an interactive session with Purushottam Kumar Gupta, Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Jammu and Kashmir at the Chamber Office. The meeting, which saw active participation from KCCI executive committee members and exporters from the region, addressed several pressing issues confronting the exporter community of Kashmir.

As per the statement, KCC&I President, Javid Tenga, welcomed the distinguished guest and highlighted the importance of customs-related infrastructural developments for boosting the region's export potential.

During the detailed interaction, KCCI representatives raised the long-standing demand for an Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kashmir. In response, Mr. Gupta informed the gathering that the ICD in Samba is nearing completion, which would partially address logistics challenges. However, the Chamber emphasized that a dedicated ICD in Kashmir remains essential and urged for its expeditious development.

Another critical issue raised during the session was regarding air cargo facilities from Srinagar airport. The KCCI urged that more airlines should be permitted to offer cargo services to exporters from the region, which would enhance connectivity, reduce logistical bottlenecks, and improve the competitiveness of Kashmir's exports in both domestic and international markets.

The interactive session provided a valuable platform for direct dialogue between the customs authorities and the business community, fostering better understanding of procedural challenges and exploring potential solutions.

The KCC&I expressed gratitude to Gupta for his attentive consideration of the issues raised and looked forward to continued engagement with customs authorities to facilitate smoother export operations from the Kashmir Valley.